Determining footwear replacement based on piezoelectric output

ABSTRACT

An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/168,509, filed on May 29, 2015, and ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/168,487, filed on May29, 2015, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/168,535, filed on May 29, 2015, the benefit of priority of each ofwhich is claimed hereby, and each of which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to an article ofapparel with a kinetic energy generator.

BACKGROUND

Mobile and wearable electronics conventionally combine compactelectronic components with a self-contained, non-volatile power source.The power source, such as a battery, supercapacitor, and the like, mayprovide power for sensors, controllers, communications, and so forth.Data to and from the electronics may be transmitted via various forms ofwired and wireless communications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a cutaway depiction of a wearable article and ablock circuit diagram of electronic components of the wearable article,in an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of electronic componentry that may beimplemented in a wearable article, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a graph 300 of a voltage output of a piezoelectric generatorand an amount of energy stored in an output storage capacitor over time,in an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic of an implementation of power componentsof a block circuit diagram, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for transmitting data from a wearable article as auser of the wearable article takes steps while wearing the wearablearticle, in an example embodiment.

FIGS. 6A-6C are examples of layouts of piezoelectric generators withrespect to a bottom contour of a wearable article, in exampleembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of a wearable article that isconfigured to determine and transmit data indicative of a physicalstatus of the wearable article, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a voltage diagram illustrating a change in a voltage profileoutput of a piezoelectric generator over time, in an example embodiment.

FIGS. 9A-9C depict an example of a wearable article flexing according toa conventional step or footfall, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for generating and transmitting an indication ofa physical status of a wearable article, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 11 block circuit diagram of a wearable article that is configuredto allow for programming electronic data to the wearable article byflexing or otherwise manipulating the wearable article, in an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an apparatus for mechanically manipulatinga wearable article to store data in the electronic data storage block,in an example embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a voltage diagram illustrating the translation of voltageoutputs from a piezoelectric generator into electronic data, in anexample embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for imparting electronic data to a wearablearticle by mechanically manipulating the wearable article, in an exampleembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and systems are directed to a wearable article with akinetic energy generator. Examples merely typify possible variations.Unless explicitly stated otherwise, components and functions areoptional and may be combined or subdivided, and operations may vary insequence or be combined or subdivided. In the following description, forpurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will beevident to one skilled in the art, however, that the present subjectmatter may be practiced without these specific details.

Various wearable articles, such as shoes or other articles of footwear,include structure that is intended to provide comfort and/or support tothe wearer of the shoe. In the case of a shoe, for instance, an insoleand outsole may provide cushioning for the foot and support for featuresof the foot and leg, such as an arch of the foot and ankles of thewearer, among many other potential areas of support and comfort.However, as a shoe is worn the structure of the shoe tends to break downor otherwise change. Cushioning may become compressed or otherwiseprovide less cushioning with time. Arch support structures may loseresilience, thereby providing less support. In general, the shoe maytend to become more flexible and less supportive with time.

Because the shoe may become less resilient with time, the voltage outputfrom a piezoelectric generator positioned within the shoe may tend tochange as well. Less resistance to flexing the shoe may predictablyresult in the shoe flexing faster, producing outputs from thepiezoelectric generator that is both shorter and higher amplitude as theshoe ages and the physical status of the shoe deteriorates. By comparingthe voltage output of the piezoelectric generator early in the usefullife of the shoe with the voltage output as the shoe is worn, inferencesmay be made as to the physical status of the shoe. When the voltageoutput shows sufficient change over time, the physical status of theshoe may be interpreted as having exceeded the useful life of the shoeand replacement of the shoe is recommended. The physical status of theshoe may be conveyed to the wearer of the shoe to encourage replacement.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a cutaway depiction of a wearable article 100 and ablock circuit diagram 102 of electronic components of the wearablearticle 100, in an example embodiment. As illustrated, the wearablearticle 100 is an article of footwear. However, it is to be understoodthat while the principles described herein are with specific referenceto the wearable article 100, the principles described herein may beapplied to any suitable wearable article, such as articles of apparel,including shirts, pants, socks, hats, and the like, without limitation.

The wearable article 100 includes an outsole 104 designed to come intocontact with a surface, such as the ground or a floor, an insole 106configured to seat a human foot, an upper section 108 configured toenclose the human foot, and a tongue 110 configured to facilitatesecuring the wearable article 100 to the human foot via laces 112. It isto be recognized that this is a simplified depiction of a conventionalwearable article 100 and that various wearable articles 100 mayincorporate any of a variety of components or features. Further, certainwearable articles 100 may not incorporate all of these features or mayinclude these features in other formats (e.g., a sandal may incorporatethe outsole 104 and a reconfigured upper section 106 and no insole 106,tongue 110, and laces 112). It is contemplated that the principlesdisclosed herein will be applicable and adaptable to any of a range ofwearable articles 100.

The wearable article 100 further includes piezoelectric generators 114coupled to electronic circuitry 116 and an antenna 118. The electroniccircuitry 116 may include or be positioned on one or more circuit boardsor other suitable substrates. As illustrated, the piezoelectricgenerators 114 and electronic circuitry 116 are seated, secured, orotherwise positioned within the outsole 104. In various examples, theoutsole 104 forms a seal around the piezoelectric generators 114 andelectronic circuitry 116 that is fully or substantially waterproof andotherwise configured to protect the piezoelectric generators 114 andelectronic circuitry 116 from environmental conditions that may tend todamage or interfere with the operation of the piezoelectric generators114 and electronic circuitry 116. In alternative example, thepiezoelectric generators 114 and electronic circuitry 116 may bepositioned in any suitable location on the wearable article 100.

As illustrated, the antenna 118 is electrically coupled to the circuitboard 116 and is positioned within the tongue 112. While the tongue 112may provide a prominent position for the antenna 118, the antenna 118may be positioned anywhere on the wearable article 100 that willfacilitate the antenna 118 conducting wireless communications with asecondary antenna position remote to the wearable article. Thus, forinstance, the antenna 118 may be positioned in various portions of theupper section 108 or in the outsole 104 or insole 106, as appropriate.

Referring specifically to the block circuit diagram 102, the electroniccircuitry 116 includes a power management circuit 120, a powermanagement storage capacitor 122, an output storage capacitor 124, awireless transceiver 126, a controller 128, and an electronic datastorage 130.

The power management circuit 120 is coupled over the piezoelectricgenerator 114 (it is noted that, for simplicity, the piezoelectricgenerator 114 as illustrated in the block circuit diagram 102 representsas many piezoelectric generators as are included in the wearable article100). In an example, the power management circuit 120 includes a powermanagement integrated circuit and a rectifier. The power managementcircuit 120 controls the flow, direction, and magnitude of the powergenerated by the piezoelectric generator 114.

The power management circuit 120 is coupled to a power managementstorage capacitor 122. The power management storage capacitor 122 issized and specified to charge at or based on voltage levels output bythe power management circuit 120. The power management storage capacitor122 is coupled to the output storage capacitor 124. The output storagecapacitor 124 has a lower voltage rating than the power managementstorage capacitor 122 and is variously charged by charge transfer orleakage from the power management storage capacitor 122. As such, theoutput storage capacitor 124 provides a step-down in voltage from thevoltage levels of the piezoelectric generator 114, power managementcircuit 120, and power management storage capacitor 122.

The output storage capacitor 124 is coupled to the wireless transceiver126 and the controller 128. In an example, the wireless transceiver 124is configured as a receiver without transmitting functionality.Alternatively, the wireless transceiver 124 may be configured totransmit and receive. The wireless transceiver 124 is configured tocommunicate according to one or more wireless modalities. In an example,the wireless modality is or is related to a Bluetooth low energy (BLE)standard. In an example, the BLE standard is specified in the BluetoothCore Specification, Version 4.1 (December 2013).

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram 200 of electronic componentry that maybe implemented in the wearable article 100, in an example embodiment.The block circuit diagram 200 includes the components of the blockcircuit diagram 102 as well as alternative and optional components. Assuch, the block circuit diagram 200 may describe circuit blocks thatinclude components in addition or alternative to the components of theblock circuit diagram 102.

The block circuit diagram 200 includes a kinetic energy generator block202, a volatile energy storage block 204, a wireless transmission block206, an electronic data storage block 208, an optional controller 210,and an optional sensor block 212. In various examples, the block circuitdiagram 200 may be applied to any suitable wearable article and thecomponents of the electronic system 200 adapted to the particularcircumstances in which they have been applied.

The kinetic energy generator block 202 optionally includes thepiezoelectric generators 114, as illustrated. In various examples, thekinetic energy generator block 202 may additionally or alternativelyinclude kinematic generators and any other of a variety of kineticenergy generators known in the art or that may be developed. In suchexamples, the piezoelectric generators 114 may be replaced with orsupplemented by the kinematic generators in the wearable article 100.The kinematic generators would not necessarily be placed in the outsole104 like the piezoelectric generators 114 and may, instead, bepositioned anywhere on the wearable article 100 as appropriate.

The kinetic energy generator block 202 produces a voltage and currentbased on physical motion. In the case of the piezoelectric generators114, the voltage and current are produced based on a flexing of thepiezoelectric generators 114 that results from the flexing of thewearable article 100. Thus, with the piezoelectric generators 114positioned in the outsole 104 as illustrated, as the outsole 104 flexes,e.g., because of a wearer of the wearable article taking a step, thepiezoelectric generators 114 also flex, resulting in the induced voltageand current. It is to be recognized that if a kinematic generator wereincorporated in addition to or instead of the piezoelectric generators114 then the voltage and current as generated may be based not inprincipal part on flexing of the wearable article 100 but on themovement of the wearable article 100 relative to a reference point, suchas Earth's gravity. For instance, such movement may be based on themovement of a wearer's foot and leg during walking or running for anarticle of footwear or the swinging of the wearer's arm for a shirt,wristband, or the like.

The volatile energy storage block 204 includes a volatile energy storagecomponent, such as a capacitor, and is positioned on the circuit board116. The volatile energy storage block 204 is configured to store energyfor relatively short periods of time, as understood in the art. Thus,for instance, while the volatile energy storage block 204 may storeenergy for time periods on the order of milliseconds or seconds, thevolatile energy storage block 204 may not store energy in a form that isresilient for hours, days, or more, in contrast to a battery, asupercapacitor, and the like. The volatile energy storage block 204 mayinclude the output storage capacitor 124 as well as the input storagecapacitor 122, in certain embodiments.

The wireless transmission block 206 includes componentry that may beutilized to transmit data stored in the electronic data storage block208. The wireless transmission block 206 may include the antenna 118 andthe wireless transceiver 126. In such an example and others, thewireless transmission block 206 may be or may optionally function as awireless transceiver block, configured to both transmit and receive datain wireless signals. Alternatively, the wireless transmission block 206may include only wireless transmission circuitry and may not beconfigured to receive wireless signals.

The wireless transmission block 206 may utilize any suitable wirelesstransmission or transceiver system, including near field communications(NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, and the likethat may be powered based on the storage and output of the volatileenergy storage block 204. The wireless transmission block 206 mayutilize or incorporate the circuit board 116 which may be or which mayincorporate a dedicated substrate or “tag” on which to position thecomponents of the wireless transmission block 206, such as an RFID tagknown in the art.

In various examples, the electronic data storage block 208 is orincludes the electronic data storage 130. In certain examples, theelectronic data storage block 208 is non-volatile, writeable electronicdata storage, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM), such as flash memory, or any other suitablenon-volatile electronic data storage known in the art. However, it is tobe understood that, in various additional or alternative examples, theelectronic data storage block 208 may be or may include volatileelectronic data storage, such as random access memory (RAM) or othersuitable volatile electronic data storage known in the art.

The electronic data storage block 208 includes electronic data that isrelated to some or all of the wearable article 100, an owner of thewearable article, a manufacturer of the wearable article 100, or anyother information that may be pertinent to various circumstances. Invarious examples, the information includes a make, model, and uniqueidentifier, such as a serial number, of the wearable article 100, a nameor other identifier of the owner or original purchaser of the wearablearticle, proprietary information related to the manufacturer of thewearable article 100, including information related to the place, date,and circumstances of the manufacture of the wearable article 100, theplace, date, and circumstances of the purchase of the wearable article100, purchase history of the owner or original purchaser of the wearablearticle 100, including items other than or in addition to the wearablearticle 100, a current date and time, and so forth. Further informationmay be added to the electronic data storage block 208 over time,including a step counter and a clock. Additional information may bestored in the electronic data storage block 208 as disclosed herein oras may be appropriate or desired.

In an example, the electronic data storage block 208 is configured tostore a 16-bit content date, an 18-bit current time, a counter ofaccumulated steps taken by or in the wearable article 100 in twenty-two(22) bits of storage, and a unique identification number of the wearablearticle 100 or the purchaser or user of the wearable article 100 inthirty (30) bits of storage, for a total of eighty-six (86) bits. In anexample, the electronic data storage block 208 is only or substantiallyonly sufficiently large to store the eighty-six (86) bits or any numberof bits as may be necessary to store the desired information.Alternatively, the electronic data storage block 208 may incorporatesufficient electronic data storage to store, for instance, time-stampeddata regarding when individual steps are taken.

A dedicated controller 210 is optionally included to provide dedicatedcontrol function for the componentry of the block circuit diagram 200The controller 210 may be or may include the controller 128. Thecontroller 210 obtains inputs from various blocks of the circuit diagram200 and controls the operation of various blocks as disclosed herein. Invarious examples, control circuitry of various blocks, including thewireless transmission block 206 and the electronic data storage block208 may obviate the need or utility of a separate controller 210. Insuch circumstances, individual blocks may perform the functions andoperations disclosed herein on an individual basis as appropriatewithout use of a central controller 210. Alternatively, the controller210 may be understood to be an amalgamation of all control functionalityof the block circuit diagram 200, including from a dedicated controlleras well as native control functions of individual blocks.

The optional sensor block 212 includes sensors that may be utilized inrecording operational or use data of the wearable article 100. In anexample, the sensor block 212 includes an accelerometer. Theaccelerometer outputs data indicative of acceleration of the wearablearticle to the controller 210. The controller 210 may variously covertthe accelerometer output to data indicative of a number of steps awearer of the wearable article has takers and store the data in theelectronic data storage block 208 or may store the raw accelerometeroutput data in the electronic data storage block 208. The steps and/oraccelerometer data may then be output by the electronic data storageblock 208 as desired, for instance for transmittal to a receiver via thewireless transmission block 204.

The sensor block 212 may, in various examples, include one or moreadditional sensors instead of or in addition to the accelerometer. Suchadditional sensors may include some or all of a gyroscope, a moisturesensor, a magnetometer, a light sensor, a pressure sensor, a shear-forcesensor, and a sweat sensor, among other suitable sensors. As with theaccelerometer example, data output from the individual sensors mayvariously be interpreted by the controller 210 and data or informationrelated to the interpretation stored in the electronic data storageblock 208, or raw data from the various sensors may be stored in theelectronic data storage block 208.

FIG. 3 is a graph 300 of a voltage output 302 of the piezoelectricgenerator 114 and an amount of energy stored 304 in the output storagecapacitor 124 over time 306, in an example embodiment. While the graph300 is described with respect to the stated components of the wearablearticle 100 in particular, it is to be understood that the graph 300 andthe principles that underlie the graph 300 may be applied to the kineticenergy generator block 202 and the volatile energy storage block 204 ingeneral. The graph is abstracted to illustrate the principles of use ofthe wearable article 100 and the precise morphology of voltage 302 andenergy stored 304 curves may vary depending on any of a variety ofcircumstances of use of the wearable article 100 and particularimplementations of the components of the wearable article 100.

As the piezoelectric generator 114 is flexed, for instance while thewearable article 100 is being worn and the wearer is walking, running,or otherwise stepping or making footfalls, the voltage response isgenerated by the piezoelectric generator 114 and the voltage output 302is transmitted to the power management circuit 120 and, ultimately, tothe output storage capacitor 124. Where the voltage output 302 reflectsa standard stepping action, the voltage output 302 includes a rise 308,peak 310, and fall 312 back to a baseline 314 for each step. Dependenton the lag introduced by the power management circuit 120 and powermanagement storage capacitor 122, the voltage output 302 ultimatelyresults in energy that is delivered to and stored in the output storagecapacitor 124.

Unlike the voltage output 302, the energy stored 304 on the outputvoltage capacitor 124 is substantially retained. While some energy mayleak from the output voltage capacitor 124 over time, over a period ofone or several seconds the leaked energy may be minimal or effectivelynegligible for the purposes of this illustrative example. Thus, as thevoltage output 302 increases and decreases with each step, the energystored 304 tends to increase over time in proportion to the amount ofvoltage generated over time.

Energy stored 304 in the output storage capacitor 124 may be utilizedfor a variety of purposes related to the components of the block circuitdiagram 102, 200. The energy stored 304 may be utilized to operate thecontroller 128, 210 and sensor block 212, among other components. Whenthe energy stored 304 is utilized for such a purpose the energy stored304 may decrease with time in relation to the energy utilized to operatethe components that are utilizing the power.

The wireless transceiver 126 similarly draws power from the outputstorage capacitor 124. However, the wireless transceiver 126 may requirean amount of energy that is substantially higher than the energyutilized by other components of the block circuit diagrams 102, 200 inorder to transmit data at a suitable or desired signal strength. Anenergy stored threshold 316 corresponding to the amount of energy neededby the wireless transceiver 126 may be predetermined and set.

Upon the energy stored 304 exceeding the threshold 316, the outputstorage capacitor 124 is discharged 318 to temporarily and discretelypower the wireless transceiver 126. The wireless transceiver 126 thusadvertises or “bursts” data that is stored in the electronic datastorage 130. In various examples, each advertisement burst variouslylasts either a predetermined time or for an amount of time sufficient totransmit the data as specified by the controller 128. As anadvertisement, the wireless transceiver 126 docs not transmit data to aparticular destination but rather transmits the data such that the datamay be received by any suitable receiver within communication range ofthe wireless transceiver 126.

The voltage output 302 as illustrated with multiple peaks 310 mayrepresent a single step, with one step corresponding to one peak 310 inexamples with only one piezoelectric generator, or individual actuationsof multiple piezoelectric generators 114 over the course of a singlestep. Accordingly, the illustrated example voltage output 302 may begenerated over the course of a single step when a piezoelectricgenerator 114 positioned at the front of the wearable article 100 flexeswhen the heel rises off the ground at the start of a step and then whena piezoelectric generator at the back of the wearable article 100 isactuated when the heel of the wearer strikes the ground at thecompletion of the step.

Individual wireless bursts may include various types of data, asdisclosed herein. In various examples, each burst includes an identifierof the article of footwear. In certain examples, each burst includesonly the identifier of the article of footwear. In other examples, eachburst includes the identifier of the article and any or all of the datapertaining to the wearable article 100, the owner or initial purchaserof the wearable article 100, the manufacturer of the wearable article100, and so forth.

Wireless bursts may also include data that is based on the output of thesensor block 212, if included. Thus, in an example where the sensorblock 212 is or includes an accelerometer, the controller 128, 210,based on its interpretation of the output from the accelerometer, notesacceleration profiles that correspond to steps being taken by a wearerof the wearable article 100 and for each step, incrementing a stepcounter that is stored in the electronic data storage 130. In such anexample, some or all of the wireless bursts include the step countervalue.

The controller 210 may further identify steps based on characteristicsof the voltage output 302. In an example, characteristics of the voltageoutput 302 may be known to correspond to a step, such as the peakvoltage 310 and the rise 308 and fall 312. For instance, a step may beidentified if the peak voltage 310 meets or exceeds a predetermined stepthreshold voltage. By way of further example, a step may be identifiedif the peak, voltage 310 meets or exceeds the predetermined stepthreshold voltage and at least one of the rise 308 and the fall 312 iswithin a particular duration window, e.g., because the rise 308 or fall312 was neither too fast nor too slow to have been caused by a step orfootfall. The characteristics of the voltage output 302 that indicate astep may be highly dependent on the characteristics of the wearablearticle 100, such as the wearable article's 100 general stiffness, andthe particular characteristics of a voltage output 302 that may beinterpreted as a step may be separately and individually determined fora given wearable article 100.

The wireless bursts are, in various examples, without respect to thepresence of another antenna to receive the wireless signals. In thoseexamples, the wireless burst occurs when the energy stored threshold 316is met If a receiving antenna is within range of the antenna 118 at thetime of the wireless burst then the information included in the wirelessburst may be received and utilized. If a receiving antenna is not withinrange of the antenna 118 then the transmission from the antenna 118 maybe lost or be unused.

FIG. 4 is a circuit schematic 400 of an implementation of powercomponents of the block circuit diagram 102, in an example embodiment.In particular, the circuit schematic provides an example embodiment ofthe piezoelectric generator 114, the power management circuit 120, thepower management storage capacitor 122, and the output storage capacitor124 blocks of the block circuit diagram.

In the illustrated example, the piezoelectric generator 114 is coupledto piezoelectric input terminals 402 of an energy harvester 404. In theillustrated example, the energy harvester is an LTC3588-1 energyharvester by Linear Technology Corporation, though it is emphasized thanany suitable component, whether off the shelf or custom designed may beused instead of or in addition to the particular energy harvesterillustrated with respect to this example embodiment.

Capacitors 406, 408 of the power management storage capacitor block 122are coupled to a voltage input terminal 410 of the energy harvester 404.The capacitors 406, 408 are selected from two different types ofcapacitors with different electrical characteristics that, includedtogether and in parallel, may provide a desired power management storagecapacitance over a variety of voltages that may be generated by thepiezoelectric generator 114. In particular, in the example embodiment,the capacitors include two tantalum capacitors 406, each with acapacitance often (10) microFarads and a voltage rating of twenty (20)Volts, and two ceramic capacitors 408, each with a capacitance offorty-seven (47) microFarads and a voltage rating of twenty-five (25)Volts. However, it is noted and emphasized that the power managementstorage capacitor block 122 may utilize any one or more capacitors asappropriate based on the circumstances of the implementation of thepower management circuit 120 and the wearable article 100 in general.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 for transmitting data from the wearablearticle 100 as a user of the wearable article 100 takes steps whilewearing the wearable article 100, in an example embodiment. While theflowchart 500 is specifically described with respect to wearing thewearable article 100, it is to be understood that uses of wearing thewearable article 100 may be substituted for manual manipulation of thewearable article 100 to produce the same or similar effect. Moreover, auser is not necessarily a person but rafter may be any animal or machinethat may wear or otherwise manipulate the wearable article 100. Further,while the flowchart is described with respect to the piezoelectricgenerator 114, it is to be understood that principles described mayapply to the kinetic energy generator block 202 in general and any otherkinetic energy generator that may be utilized instead of or in additionto the piezoelectric generator 114.

At 502, the power management circuit 120 waits to receive an input fromone or more piezoelectric generators 114.

At 504, the flexing of the piezoelectric generator 114 induces a voltageoutput 302 from the piezoelectric generator 114 that is received by thepower management circuit 120. The voltage output 302 is commensuratewith and related to the nature of the step, in that if the step isrelatively fast then rise 308 and fall 312 may be relatively short whilethe peak 310 may be relatively high, while if the step is relativelyslow then the rise 308 and fall 312 may be relatively long while thepeak 310 may be relatively low.

At 506, the power management circuit 120 receives energy generated bythe piezoelectric generator 114, based on the voltage and resultantcurrent generated by flexing the piezoelectric generator 114. The powermanagement circuit 120 optionally shifts a voltage or otherwise convertsthe energy received from the piezoelectric generator 114 and stores theenergy in the output storage capacitor 124, including by adding theenergy from the piezoelectric generator 114 to energy already stored inthe output storage capacitor 124.

At 508, the controller 128 optionally determines if a step has occurred.The controller 128 may determine a step has occurred based, forinstance, on the peak voltage 310 exceeding a predetermine thresholdand/or according to any conditions that may tend to indicate that theenergy generated by the piezoelectric generator 114 was from a footfall.Additionally or alternatively, sensor data from the sensor block 212,such as from an accelerometer, may supplement or replace an analysis ofthe energy generated by the piezoelectric generator in identifying astep.

At 510, if the controller 128 determines that a step has occurred thenthe controller 128 increments the step counter in the electronic datastorage 130 and/or the electronic data storage block 208.

At 512, the controller 128 determines if the energy stored in the outputstorage capacitor 124 equals or exceeds the energy stored threshold 316.As illustrated, the determination of the amount of energy stored in theoutput storage capacitor 124 is based, at least in part, on receivingenergy from the power management circuit 120. However, in variousexamples, the determination of the amount of energy stored in the outputstorage capacitor 124 may be continual, periodic, or otherwise occur notnecessarily with respect to or dependent on a discrete occurrence ofreceiving or having received energy from the power management circuit120. If the energy stored in the output storage capacitor 124 does notequal or exceed the energy stored threshold 316, the flowchart 500returns to 502. If so, the threshold 316 is met the flowchart 500proceeds to 514.

At 514, the controller 128 causes the wireless transceiver 126 to drawenergy from the output storage capacitor 124 and transmit data from theelectronic data storage 130 and/or the electronic data storage block208. In various examples, the wireless transceiver 126 transmits all ofthe data stored in the electronic data storage 130 and/or electronicdata storage block 208 with each burst. Alternatively, the controllerselectively bursts data stored in the electronic data storage 130. Invarious examples, the wireless transceiver 126 transmits the data as anadvertisement and without respect to any intended recipient of the data.

FIGS. 6A-6C are examples of layouts of piezoelectric generators 114 withrespect to a bottom contour 600 of the wearable article 100, in exampleembodiments. The bottom contour 600 is presented for clarity and it isto be understood that the piezoelectric generators 114 will actually bedisposed within the wearable article 100 in the manners disclosedherein, e.g., embedded within or between one or more of the outsole 104and the insole 106.

In FIG. 6A, the piezoelectric generator 114 is positioned extendinglaterally across a forefoot region 602 of the wearable article 100,approximately where the ball of a human foot is seated when wearing thewearable article 100. The forefoot region 602 may tend to include, onaverage, the greatest amount of longitudinal flexing of any region ofthe wearable article 100 during a step or footfall. By extending thepiezoelectric generator 114 laterally across the forefoot region 602,flexing of the piezoelectric generator 114 and, as a result, powergenerated by the piezoelectric generator 114, may be maximized relativeto positioning the piezoelectric generator 114 in other locations on thewearable article 100.

FIG. 6B shows a configuration of multiple piezoelectric generators 114that may be implemented instead of or in addition to the arrangement ofthe piezoelectric generator 114 in FIG. 6A. In particular, thepiezoelectric generators 114 are dispersed generally over the bottomcontour 600. In such an example, the resultant voltage output 302 mayconsist not necessarily of clear peaks 310 and rise 308 and fall times312 but rather of a varying but relatively steady voltage over thecourse of a step.

FIG. 6C shows a configuration of two piezoelectric generators 114, onepositioned at the front of the wearable article 100 in the forefootregion 602 and the other positioned at the back of the wearable article100 in the heel region 604. This configuration may generate the voltageoutput 302 as received at the volatile energy storage block 204illustrated in the graph 300, first by flexing the forefoot region 602at the start, of a step and actuating the piezoelectric generator 114 inthe heel at the completion of the step. It is noted and emphasized thatthe voltage output 302 illustrated in the graph 300 may be generatedfrom other configurations of piezoelectric generators 114, including bytaking multiple steps in a wearable article 100 with only onepiezoelectric generator 114 or multiple piezoelectric generators 114that are not all necessarily actuated during a single step.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram 700 of a wearable article 100 that isconfigured to determine and transmit data indicative of a physicalstatus of the wearable article 100, in an example embodiment. The blockcircuit diagram 700 may be implemented with respect to the componentsillustrated with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B along with additionalcomponents disclosed herein. Furthermore, certain components of thewearable article 100 may be omitted or not used to the extent that thosecomponents are not useful in the implementation of the block circuitdiagram 700. In various examples, the wearable article 100 is an articleof footwear, as disclosed herein, though any suitable wearable articlemay be utilized. Furthermore, while the components of the block circuitdiagram are described with respect to being components of a particularwearable article 100 or article of footwear, it is to be understood thata system may include the various components not necessarily co-locatedon the same wearable article 100.

The example illustrated in the block circuit diagram 700 may be utilizedin conjunction with and in the same wearable article 100 as otherexamples, such as the block circuit diagram 200. In such examples,components of the block circuit diagram 102 may correspond to blocks inboth the block circuit, diagrams 200 and 700. Thus, for instance, thepiezoelectric generator 114 may both provide power to the volatileenergy storage block 204 for use in a burst data advertisement as wellas voltage to a voltage sensor in block diagram 700 for use indetermining a change in the physical status of the wearable article 100.Moreover, particular components described with respect to the blockcircuit diagram 700 may be implemented in other examples of the wearablearticle 100, whether illustrated herein or not.

The block circuit diagram 700 includes piezoelectric generator 702, suchas the piezoelectric generator 114. The piezoelectric generator 702 maybe understood to be any suitable kinetic energy generator that is knownor that may be developed that responds to a flexing of the wearablearticle and may be in any suitable orientation disclosed herein or thatmay provide information related to a physical status of the wearablearticle 100.

A voltage sensor 704 is coupled to the piezoelectric generator 114 andis configured to sense the voltage output 302 of the piezoelectricgenerator 114. The voltage sensor 704 generates a voltage sensor outputthat is indicative of the voltage as sensed. The voltage sensor iscoupled to an electronic data storage block 706, such as the electronicdata storage 130. The voltage sensor output may be stored as data in theelectronic data storage block 706.

A controller block 708 optionally includes the controller 128 and othercomponentry that may distinguish between and among various outputs ofthe voltage sensor 704. The controller block 708 optionally includes thevoltage sensor 704 and a comparator. The controller block 708 accessesvoltage sensor outputs as stored in the electronic data storage block706 and compares those voltage sensor outputs over time to determine aphysical status of the wearable article 100, as disclosed herein. Thecontroller block 708 may also manage any control function of thewearable article 100, including storing data to the electronic datastorage block 706 and accessing data from the electronic date storageblock 706.

A wireless transmission block 710 includes the wireless transceiver 126and the antenna 118 and may be the same or incorporate similarfunctionality as the wireless transmission block 206. The controllerblock 708 may control the wireless transmission block 206 to transmitdata indicative of the physical status of the wearable article 100.

The block circuit diagram 700 optionally further includes a power source712, such as a battery. The power source 712 may not be included invarious examples in which the piezoelectric generator 702 may supply thenecessary power to operate the circuitry of the block circuit diagram700, as disclosed herein with respect to tire wearable article 100.However, in various examples, the power source 712 may variouslysupplement or replace the power provided by the piezoelectric generator702. The power source 712 may be rechargeable, replaceable, orinaccessible for charging or replacement as known in the art.

The block diagram 700 optionally further includes components and devicesthat are external to the wearable article 100. In particular, a wirelessreceiver 714 may receive the wireless signals transmitted by thewireless transmission block 710. A user interface 716 may display orotherwise convey information indicative of the physical status of thewearable article 100 as received in the wireless transmission by thewireless receiver 714. The user interface 716 may include a visualdisplay, a speaker, or other mechanism for providing the indication ofthe physical status of the wearable article as well as computingcomponents as would be necessary to operate the user interface 716.

It is emphasized that the block diagram 700 illustrates components thatmay be utilized for the purposes of determining and transmitting dataindicative of a physical status of the wearable article 100, in anexample embodiment. The wearable article 100 may thus include not onlythe components of the block diagram 700 but also any additionalcomponents that are described herein in addition to those componentsillustrated in the block diagram 700. Thus, additional examples that arebased on the block diagram 700 may incorporate components that may beused for data advertising and storage of electronic data, as disclosedherein, as well as additional features or functionality that may beuseful under various circumstances.

FIG. 8 is a voltage diagram 800 illustrating a change in a voltageprofile output of the piezoelectric generator 702 over time, in anexample embodiment. The voltage diagram is illustrative and abstract andit is to be understood that the voltage profiles may have many differentmorphologies depending on the nature of the wearable article 100 and theway that individual wearers of the wearable article 100 use the wearablearticle 100. Thus, the way in which a wearer of the wearable article 100walks or runs while wearing the wearable article 100 may change themorphology of the voltage profiles. However, it is to be understood thatthe principles illustrated with respect to the illustrative voltageprofiles may be applied to any of a variety of voltage profiles and avariety of circumstances.

Further, while the voltage profiles are illustrated graphically for thepurposes of this description, it is to be understood that the comparisonof one voltage profile to another may be not on the basis of a fullrepresentation of a voltage profile to another but rather between andamong discrete characteristics of the voltage profiles. Thus, as will bedescribed herein, rather than necessarily comparing completemorphologies of voltage profiles, the controller block 708 may comparediscrete characteristics of the voltage profiles, including peak, risetime, fall time, and overall duration of the profile, as disclosedherein.

The voltage diagram 800 includes a first voltage profile 802 obtainedfrom the output of the piezoelectric generator 702 and converted into asensor signal by the voltage sensor 704 at a first time. The voltagediagram 800 further includes a second voltage profile 804 obtained fromthe output of the piezoelectric generator 702 and converted into asensor signal by the voltage sensor 704 at a second time later than thefirst time. In various examples, the first and second times are notdiscrete times but rather may represent an average or other statisticalrelationship of individual voltage profiles over a window or period oftime. Thus, the first voltage profile 802 may represent an average ofindividual outputs from the piezoelectric generator 702 over a firstwindow at or around the first time and the second voltage profile 804may represent an average of individual outputs from the piezoelectricgenerator 702 over a second window at or around the second time.

For the purposes of the voltage diagram 800, time may be understood oraccounted for in a variety of suitable manners. In an example, time maybe absolute time measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, and soforth. However, alternatively or additionally, time may be indicativenot of absolute time but of events, such as steps of footfalls oroutputs form the piezoelectric generator 702 that are interpretable assteps or footfalls, as disclosed herein. Thus, in an example, eachvoltage profile 802, 804 represents an average of voltage profiles overone thousand (1,000) steps or other suitable or appropriate window.Additionally, the time between the first and second times may, invarious examples, be one week, one month, or other suitable amount oftime, or may be a suitable number of steps, such as ten thousand(10,000) or one hundred thousand (100,000) steps or footfalls.

In general, the first voltage profile 802, corresponds to a time inwhich the wearable article 100 has experienced relatively little overalluse while the second voltage profile 804 corresponds to a time in whichthe wearable article 100 has been worn down, at least to an extent,through use. In particular, as the wearable article 100 structurallydeteriorates the support provided by the wearable article 100 to awearer of the wearable article 100 may tend to decrease. Thus, initiallythe wearable article 100 may have greater stiffness and resistance tobeing flexed at the first time than at the second time. Because thewearable article 100 produces relatively less resistance to being flexedat the second time than at the first time, the rise time 308 and falltime 312 may tend to shorten while the peak voltage 310 may tend toincrease. Then, by measuring a change in one or more of the rise 308,peak 310, and fall 312 from the first voltage profile 802 to the secondvoltage profile 804, a physical condition of the wearable article 100may be inferred.

In an example, the first time at which the first voltage profile 802 istaken is at or is shortly after the wearable article 100 is first usedby a user. In an example, a window that accounts for the first time isthe average of the first ten thousand (10,000) steps taken with thewearable article 100. Following that, a rolling window often thousand(10,000) steps may be utilized as the second time for the second voltageprofile 804. The rolling window for the second time may be updated everyten thousand (10,000) steps, e.g., with each new step creating a newwindow of the ten thousand (10,000) immediately preceding steps, or maybe considered for consecutive, non-overlapping ten thousand (10,000)step blocks, e.g., steps 100,000-109,999 would be one window, steps110,000-119,999 would be another window, and so forth. It is emphasizedthat while ten thousand (10,000) steps are used as an example, any of avariety of steps or actual time may be utilized as appropriate ordesired.

As described herein, the voltage profiles 802, 804 are generated basedon the voltage sensor 704 producing a sensor output from the output ofthe piezoelectric generator 702. In an example, the sensor output issome or all of the rise time 308, the fall time 312, and the peakvoltage 310 of a step or is discrete output voltages over time that maythen be interpreted by the controller block 708 as pertaining to rise308, peak 310, and fall 312 of a step. The voltage sensor 704 mayvariously transmit the sensor output to the controller block 708, whichthen saves rise 308, peak 310, and fall 312 to the electronic datastorage block 706, or may save the sensor output directly to theelectronic data storage block 706.

The controller block 708 may variously directly access the sensor outputto obtain the second voltage profile 804 or access the electronic datastorage block 706 to obtain the sensor output data as stored. Havinggenerated the voltage profiles 802, 804, the controller block 708 thencompares the first voltage profile 802 with the second voltage profile804 to determine a change in some or all of the rise time 308, peakvoltage 310, and fall time 312. Based on the comparison, the controllerblock 708 determines an indication of the physical status of thewearable article 100.

In an example, the indication of the physical status of the wearablearticle 100 is a recommended replacement of the wearable article 100. Insuch an example, the controller block 708 determines that the physicalstatus of the wearable article 100 is such that the wearable article 100has worn out or otherwise exceeded its suitable usable life and thereforreplacement is recommended. The indication of the physical status mayadditionally or alternatively be a numerical indication of thedeterioration or remaining useful life of the wearable article 100. Forinstance, the controller block 708 may determine a percentage of usefullife remaining of the wearable article or an anticipated time untilreplacement based on the comparison of the first voltage profile 802 tothe second voltage profile 804.

Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the function of thecontroller block 708 may be performed by a controller or processorexternal to the wearable article 100. In such an example, the controllerblock 708 may perform some of the operations needed to determine thephysical status of the wearable article 100 and then transmit data to arelatively more powerful or capable processor or controller via thewireless transmission block 710 to generate the actual physical status.Thus, the controller block 708 may be understood to include computing orcontrolling resources

In an example, the controller block 708 determines the indication of thephysical status of the wearable article 10 based on a percentage changein one or more of the rise 308, peak 310, and fall 312 from the firstvoltage profile 802 to the second voltage profile 804. In an example,the percentage change is an increase in the peak voltage 310 oftwenty-five (25) percent or more and a decrease in rise time 308 andfall time 312 of twenty-five percent (25) or more. It is noted andemphasized that the percentage change to indicate a recommendedreplacement of the wearable article 100 may be dependent on the natureof individual models and types of the wearable article 100. Thus, whilecertain types may allow for a relatively large loss of structuralstability before replacement is necessarily recommended, it may beadvisable to replace other types of wearable article 100 afterrelatively small amounts of structural deterioration. Thus, thepercentages of increase or decrease in the voltage profiles 802, 804that may result in a recommended replacement of the wearable article 100may be directly dependent on the characteristics and expected uses ofthe particular wearable article 100 that is being assessed.

In an example, the controller block 708 provides an indication of thephysical status of the wearable article 100 based on the dataadvertisement principles described with respect to the block circuitdiagram 200 and the flowchart 500. In such an example, the data burstmay include an indication of the physical status of the wearable article100 along with other data. In such an example, a receive may detect thedata burst and a computing system may read the indication of thephysical status of tire wearable article 100 and provide a visual orother indication of that physical status. In an example, a userinterface coupled to the receiver and a processor may, based on theindication of the physical status, display a message that the wearablearticle 100 does not need to be replaced, is recommended to be replaced,or other data related to the physical status of the wearable article,such as an estimated time until replacement will be recommended or apercentage deterioration in the wearable article 100.

Additionally or alternatively, the indication of the physical status ofthe wearable article 100 may be transmitted to be presented on a userinterface or otherwise communicated to a user according to any of avariety of mechanisms. For instance, the electronic data storage block706 may include a removable data storage that may be removed andinserted in a reader. The wearable article 100 may incorporate a port,such as a USB port or other suitable mode of wired data transfer, thatmay be used to couple to an external system. Any of a variety ofadditional mechanisms may be utilized as appropriate to transfer theindication of the physical status of the wearable article 100. However,it is emphasized that in examples of the wearable article 100 wherephysical electronic isolation is desired, data transfer mechanisms thatwould expose the electronics to environmental conditions may beundesirable and wireless modes implemented instead.

FIGS. 9A-9C depict an example of the wearable article 100 flexingaccording to a conventional step or footfall, in an example embodiment.The flexing illustrated is of the sort that may become relatively easierat the second time than at the first time owing to a change in thephysical status of the wearable article 100. In FIG. 9A, the wearablearticle 100 starts with the outsole 104 flat on a surface 900. In FIG.9B, in the initial action of a step, the heel region 604 rises as thewearable article 100 generally flexes in the forefoot region 602,leaving the toe box 902 generally against the surface 900 until thewearable article 100 lifts from the surface 900 entirely. The process offlexing the forefoot region 602 while the toe box 902 remains in contactwith the surface 900 produces the rise 308 in the voltage profiles 802,804, with the peak 310 generally occurring during this time.

In FIG. 9C, upon the toe box 902 leaving the surface 900, the wearablearticle 100 returns to an relaxed or unflexed state but not in contactwith the surface 900. The returning to the relaxed state produces thefall 312 in the voltage profile 802, 804. The wearable article 100eventually comes into contact with the surface 900 in the heel region604 but flexing in that action may be limited to none.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart 1000 for generating and transmitting anindication of a physical status of the wearable article 100, in anexample embodiment. The flowchart will be described with respect to theblock diagram 700 but it is to be recognized and understood that theflowchart 1000 may be implemented on any suitable system on a wearablearticle 100, including other systems disclosed herein.

At 1002, the wearable article 100 flexes and induces a voltage from thepiezoelectric generator 702.

At 1004, the voltage sensor 704 senses the output from the piezoelectricgenerator 702 and outputs a sensor output to the controller block 708.

At 1006, the controller block 708 processes the sensor output to producea voltage profile e.g., as the first voltage profile 802 if the firstvoltage profile 802 has not yet been created or as the second voltageprofile 804 if the second voltage profile has not been created, of theflexing. The voltage profile 802 includes one or more of the rise time308, the peak voltage 310, and the fall time 312 and stores the voltageprofile 802 in the electronic data storage block 706. Processing thesensor output to generate a voltage profile may be based on a singlestep by the wearable article 100 or may be based on multiple steps overa window, as disclosed herein. As such, processing the sensor output maybe delayed until sufficient sensor outputs are received to produce thevoltage profile 802, 804 over the prescribed window.

At 1008, the controller block 708 determines if conditions have been metto compare the first voltage profile 802 with the second voltage profile804. Conditions for making the comparison are described herein and maybe met with every identified step or flexing of the wearable article 100or may be based on a predetermined number of steps having been takensince the last comparison, among other potential criteria for making thecomparison. If the criteria are met then the flowchart 1000 proceeds to1010. If the criteria are not met, the flowchart 1000 returns to waitingfor the wearable article 100 to flex to induce the voltage from thepiezoelectric generator 702.

At 1010, the controller block 708 compares at least one characteristicof the rise time 308, the peak voltage 310, and the fall time 312 fromthe first voltage profile 802 and the second voltage profile 804 todetermine a percentage change in the one or more characteristics havechanged by a predetermined amount. In an example, if any two of thecharacteristics 308, 310, 312 have changed by more than their respectivepredetermined amount, in the example herein by twenty-five (25) percentor more, then at 1012 the controller block 708 determines that physicalstatus of the wearable article 100 is for a recommended replacement. Ifat least two of the characteristics 308, 310, 312 have not reached thepredetermined amount of change then at 1014 the controller block 708determines that the physical status of the wearable article 100 is thatreplacement is not recommended. In each case, the controller block 708may store an indication of the physical status of the wearable article100 in the electronic data storage block 706. The indication of thephysical status of the wearable article 100 may default to beingreplacement not recommended at least until the first comparison betweenthe first voltage profile 802 and the second voltage profile 804 can bemade.

As has been noted herein, the details of determining a physical statusof a given wearable article 100 may vary depending on the nature of thewearable article 100. In particular, the percentage change in thecharacteristics 308, 310, 312 and the number of characteristics 308,310, 312 that need to exhibit the percentage change may vary dependingon the wearable article. The percentage change needed to indicaterecommended replacement may differ among the characteristics 308, 310,312, and the physical status may be other than recommended replacementor replacement not recommended, as disclosed herein.

At 1016, the controller block 708 causes the wireless transmission block710 to transmit an indication of the physical status of the wearablearticle 100. The controller block 708 may either transmit the indicationof the physical status directly to the wireless transmission block 710or may access the indication of the physical condition from theelectronic data storage block 706. The wireless transmission may beaccording to a data advertising burst, as disclosed herein, or may beaccording to a prompt for the physical status from an outsidetransmitter or according to any other condition or command fortransmitting the indication of the physical condition, whetheroriginating from the wearable article 100 or from an outside system, asknown in the art. Upon transmitting the indication of the physicalcondition, the flowchart 1000 returns to waiting for the wearablearticle to flex and induce an output from the piezoelectric generator702 at 1002.

FIG. 11 block circuit diagram 1100 of an electrical system of thewearable article 100 that is configured to allow for programmingelectronic data to the wearable article 100 by flexing or otherwisemanipulating the wearable article 100, in an example embodiment. Thus,in such an example embodiment, rather than using conventional wired orwireless electronic transfer of data to the wearable article 100,electronic data may be written by manipulating the wearable article 100in such a way as to induce a voltage output from a piezoelectricgenerator 114 that may be interpreted as electronic data and stored inan electronic data storage 130. In various examples, the wearablearticle 100 is an article of footwear, as disclosed herein, though anysuitable wearable article may be utilized.

A piezoelectric generator 1102 includes the piezoelectric generator 114and optionally other componentry of the kinetic energy generator block202 and the piezoelectric generator 1102. A controller block 1104includes the controller 128 as well as optionally other components ofthe controller 210 and the controller block 1108. The controller block1104 further includes or functions as a data translator. The datatranslator receives a voltage output form the piezoelectric generator1102 and translates the voltage output to corresponding data. Anelectronic data storage block 1106 includes the electronic data storage130 and receives and stores from the controller block 1104 data astranslated from the voltage output of the piezoelectric generator 114.

As with the block diagrams 200 and 700, components of the block circuitdiagram 102 that are not illustrated are not necessarily included inexamples of the wearable article 100 that implement the block circuitdiagram 1100. Such components may be included as appropriate and asdesired but are not necessarily incorporated or required. Thus, forinstance, the wireless transceiver 126 may be incorporated and utilizedto transmit data stored in the electronic data storage block 1106, butis not necessarily included as desired. Further, components that are notdetailed in the block diagrams 102, 200, 700, and 1100 may be includedin implementations of any one or more of the block diagrams 102, 200,700, and 1100 as appropriate and as desired.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an apparatus 1200 for mechanicallymanipulating the wearable article 100 to store data in the electronicdata storage block 1106, in an example embodiment. Clamps 1202, 1204grip the wearable article 100 on or near the toe box 902 and the heelregion 604. Arms 1206, 1208 may then, manipulate the wearable article100 by bending and flexing the wearable article 100 rotationally aboutthe forefoot region 602, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C. The arms 1206,1208 may be coupled to motors, servos, controllers, and the like thatallow the arms 1206, 1208 to move in ways suitable to manipulate thewearable article 100 as desired, including rotationally.

The apparatus 1200 may control a speed and degree to which the wearablearticle 100 is flexed, thereby potentially changing the rise time 308,peak voltage 310, and fall time 312 of the voltage output 302. Invarious examples, the apparatus 1200 may also induce a torque in thewearable article 100 by twisting the wearable article 100 between theclamps 1202, 1204, thereby potentially inducing different voltageoutputs from the piezoelectric generator 1102 than would necessarily begenerated by flexing the wearable article about the forefoot region 602.

FIG. 13 is a voltage diagram 1300 illustrating the translation ofvoltage outputs from the piezoelectric generator 1102 into electronicdata, in an example embodiment. The apparatus 1200 transmits data byflexing the wearable article 100 such that the peak voltage 310 does ordoes not exceed a peak voltage threshold 1302 at predetermined times orwindows 1304. The data translator of the controller block 1104 may thentranslate the occurrence or non-occurrence of peak voltages 310 thatexceed the threshold 1302 at the predetermined times 1304 ascorresponding digital data. For instance, a peak voltage 310 thatexceeds the peak voltage threshold 1302 at a predetermined time 1304 isinterpreted as a logical “1” while not exceeding the threshold 1302 at apredetermined time 1304 is interpreted as a logical “0”.

Additionally or alternatively, the windows 1304 may be dispensed with infavor of interpreting any peak voltages 310 that exceed a firstthreshold but not a second threshold higher than the first threshold asone logical bit, such as a logical “0”, and any peak voltage 310 thatexceeds both the first and second thresholds as a different logical,bit, such as a logical “1”. In such an example, data bits may betransmitted as quickly as the wearable article 100 can be manipulated todistinctly cause voltage peaks 100 at the desired voltage levels todistinguish between different logical bits and without requiringotherwise precise timing or adherence to prescribed windows 1304.However, such a mechanism may rely on relatively precise expectations ofoutput voltage form the piezoelectric generator 1102.

While the voltage diagram 1300 illustrates a binary transmittal ofindividual bits of data, the apparatus 1200 may manipulate the wearablearticle 100 in such a way as to derive significance from multipleaspects of the voltage output 302, as noted above. Thus, for instance,the rise time 308 of a pulse may be compared against a threshold and,depending on the comparison, a logical “1” or a logical “0” may betranslated from the use time 308. The same principles may be applied toobtain data from the fall time 312 or any other measurable aspect of apulse. Thus, multiple bits may be translated from a single pulse, insuch an example, the rise time 308 may account for a first bit of agroup of three bits, the peak voltage 310 may account for a second bitof the group of three bits, and the fall time 312 may account for athird bit of the group of three bits. Thus, in an example, if the risetime 308 is taster than a rise time threshold for a logical “1”, thepeak voltage 310 exceeds the peak voltage threshold 1302 for a logical“1”, and the fall time 312 is not faster than a fall time threshold fora logical “0”, then that pulse may correspond to the logical output“110” that may be translated by the controller block 1104 and stored inthe electronic data storage block 1106.

The controller block 1104 may assess different piezoelectric generators114 for electronic data. Thus, while a first piezoelectric generator 114may be positioned in or near the forefoot region 602, a secondpiezoelectric generator 114 may be positioned along the bottom contour600 in such away as to be sensitive to a torque on the wearable article100, as described above. Thus, in the illustrative example, the wearablearticle 100 may be flexed and torqued to separately manipulate each ofthe piezoelectric generators 114 to impart data that may be translatedby the controller block 1104.

Moreover, while the block circuit diagram 1100 is described with respectto piezoelectric generators 114 and the piezoelectric generator block1102, it is to be understood that the principles described may beapplicable to any of a variety of kinetic energy generators. Themanipulation of the wearable article may be adjusted according to thenature of the specific kinetic energy generator used. Such additionalkinetic energy generators may be used alone or in conjunction withpiezoelectric generators 114. Thus, the apparatus 1200 may be configuredboth to flex the wearable article 100 and to shake or otherwise move thewearable article to stimulate a kinematic generator.

In an example, the controller block 1104 may write data to theelectronic data storage block 1106 upon detecting a code made of up of apredetermined sequence of voltage outputs form the piezoelectricgenerator 1102. As such, the predetermined sequence may be generated bymanipulating the wearable article 100 in a predetermined way m order toprevent or lessen the likelihood of an inadvertent writing of data tothe electronic data storage block 1106. Thus, to initiate writing ofdata to the electronic data storage block 1106 the code may first beimparted, following which the data may be written.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart 1400 for imparting electronic data to a wearablearticle 100 by mechanically manipulating the wearable article 100, in anexample embodiment. While the flowchart 1400 is described with respectto the block diagram 1100, it is to be understood that the flowchart1400 may be implemented on or with respect to any suitable wearablearticle 100 or system.

At 1402, the controller block 1104 waits until a predetermined time,such as a window 1304, to receive a voltage output from thepiezoelectric generator 1102 occurs.

At 1404, upon the predetermined time being arrived at, the controllerblock 1104 determines one or more characteristics of any voltage output302 that occurs at the predetermined time. The determination may bebased on a measurement of the voltage output 302 relating to eachparticular characteristic. The characteristics may include one or moreof the rise time 308, the peak voltage 310, and the fall time 312.

At 1406, the controller block 1106 determines digital data thatcorresponds to the one or more characteristics, as determined. In anexample, each characteristic corresponds to one digital bit. In such anexample, the nature of the characteristic as determined dictates thedetermination of the value of the digital bit, as disclosed herein.

At 1408, the controller block 1106 causes the digital data from thevoltage output 302 to be written to the electronic data storage block1106. The flowchart 1400 then returns to 1402.

EXAMPLES

In Example 1, a wearable article includes a structural materialconfigured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, avolatile energy storage device, a wireless transmission circuit, coupledto the volatile energy storage device, comprising an antenna having aminimum transmission energy, a kinetic energy generator, positioned withrespect to the structural material in a configuration to be manipulatedto induce a voltage output, the kinetic energy generator coupled to andconfigured to charge the volatile energy storage device, a sensorconfigured to output activity data related to the wearable article, andan electronic data storage, coupled to the sensor, configured to storethe activity data, wherein, upon the volatile energy storage devicecharging to at least the minimum transmission energy, the wirelesstransmission circuit transmits the activity data as stored in theelectronic data storage based on energy discharged, at least in part,from the volatile energy storage device.

In Example 2, the wearable article of Example 1 optionally furtherincludes that the kinetic energy generator is a piezoelectric generator.

In Example 3, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1 and2 optionally further includes a sole, wherein the piezoelectricgenerator is positioned, at least in part, in relation to the sole.

In Example 4, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-3optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator ispositioned within the sole.

In Example 5, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-4optionally further includes that the sole comprises an insole and anoutsole and wherein the piezoelectric generator is positioned on a topsurface of the sole outsole and a bottom surface of the insole.

In Example 6, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-5optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator comprises aplurality of piezoelectric generators and wherein the plurality ofpiezoelectric generators are positioned in discrete and separatelocations in the wearable article.

In Example 7, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-6optionally further includes that a first piezoelectric generator of theplurality of piezoelectric generators is positioned proximate a forefootof the wearable article and wherein the second piezoelectric generatorof the plurality of piezoelectric generators is positioned proximate aheel of the wearable article.

In Example 8, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-7optionally further includes a sole, wherein the plurality ofpiezoelectric generators are distributed substantially evenly withrespect to the sole.

In Example 9, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-8optionally further includes a sole having a major surface, wherein thepiezoelectric generator is substantially coextensive to and conformalwith the major surface of the sole.

In Example 10, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-9optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator isconfigure to generate a discrete energy output less than the minimumtransmission energy upon a discrete flexing of the piezoelectricgenerator, and wherein the energy storage device is configured to chargeto at least the minimum transmission energy upon a plurality of discreteflexing events of the piezoelectric generator.

In Example 11, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-10optionally further includes that the volatile energy storage device is acapacitor.

In Example 12, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-11optionally further includes a controller configured to cause thewireless transmission circuit to transmit the activity data based, atleast in part, on receiving an indication that the volatile energytransmission device has a charge of at least the minimum transmissionenergy.

In Example 13, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-12optionally further includes that the electronic data storage is furtherconfigured to store identity data of the wearable article and whereinthe wireless transmission circuit is further configured to transmit theidentity data upon the volatile energy storage device charging to atleast the minimum transmission energy.

In Example 14, the wearable article of any one or more of Examples 1-13optionally further includes that the wearable article is an article offootwear, the sensor is configured to sense a footstep and wherein theactivity data is indicative, at least in part, of a number of footstepsfor which the article of footwear was worn.

In Example 15, a method includes outputting, with a kinetic energygenerator positioned with respect to a structural material of an articleof footwear in a configuration to be manipulated with a manipulation ofthe article of footwear, a voltage output, the kinetic energy generatorcoupled to and configured to charge a volatile energy storage device,outputting, with a sensor, activity data related to the article offootwear, storing, in an electronic data storage, coupled to the sensor,the activity data, and transmitting, with a wireless transmissioncircuit, upon the volatile energy storage device charging to at least,the minimum transmission energy, the activity data as stored in theelectronic data storage based on energy discharged, at least in part,from the volatile energy-storage device.

In Example 16, the method of Example 15 optionally further includes thatthe kinetic energy generator is a piezoelectric generator.

In Example 17, the method of any one or more of Examples 15 and 16optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator ispositioned, at least in part, in relation to the sole.

In Example 18, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-17optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator ispositioned within the sole.

In Example 19, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-18optionally further includes that the sole comprises an insole and anoutsole and wherein the piezoelectric generator is positioned on a topsurface of the sole outsole and a bottom surface of the insole.

In Example 20, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-19optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator comprises aplurality of piezoelectric generators, where in the plurality ofpiezoelectric generators are positioned in discrete and separatelocations in the article of footwear, and wherein outputting a voltageoutput is from at least one of the plurality of piezoelectricgenerators.

In Example 21, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-20optionally further includes that a first piezoelectric generator of theplurality of piezoelectric generators is positioned proximate a forefootof the wearable article and wherein the second piezoelectric generatorof the plurality of piezoelectric generators is positioned proximate aheel of the article of footwear.

In Example 22, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-21optionally further includes a sole, wherein the plurality ofpiezoelectric generators axe distributed substantially evenly withrespect to the sole.

In Example 23, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-22optionally further includes a sole having a major surface, wherein thepiezoelectric generator is substantially coextensive to and conformalwith the major surface of the sole.

In Example 24, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-23optionally further includes that the piezoelectric generator isconfigure to generate a discrete energy output less than the minimumtransmission energy upon a discrete flexing of the piezoelectricgenerator, and wherein the energy storage device is configured to chargeto at least the minimum transmission energy upon a plurality of discreteflexing events of the piezoelectric generator.

In Example 25, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-24optionally further includes that the volatile energy storage device is acapacitor.

In Example 26, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-25optionally further includes causing, with a controller, the wirelesstransmission circuit to transmit the activity data based, at least inpart, on receiving an indication that the volatile energy transmissiondevice has a charge of at least the minimum transmission energy.

In Example 27, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-26optionally further includes that the electronic data storage is furtherconfigured to store identity data of the article of footwear and furthercomprising transmitting, with the wireless transmission circuit, theidentity data upon the volatile energy storage device charging to atleast the minimum transmission energy.

In Example 28, the method of any one or more of Examples 15-27optionally further includes that the sensor is configured to sense afootstep and wherein the activity data is indicative, at least in part,of a number of footsteps for which the article of footwear was worn.

In Example 29, an article of footwear includes a structural materialconfigured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body, awireless transmission circuit, a piezoelectric generator, positionedwith respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexedto induce a voltage signal output, configured to output a signal havinga voltage profile upon being flexed, a voltage sensor, coupled to thepiezoelectric generator, configured to sense the voltage profile andoutput a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile, an electronicdata storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, configured to store voltageprofile information based on the sensor data, a comparator, coupled tothe electronic data storage, configured to identify a change in thevoltage profile information over time, wherein the wireless transmissioncircuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical statusof the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profileinformation over time.

In Example 30, the article of footwear of Example 29 optionally furtherincludes that the voltage profile includes a peak voltage, relative to abaseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, a fall time ofthe pulse, and a pulse duration, and wherein the change in the voltageprofile is based on a change in the voltage profile of at least one ofthe peak voltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration.

In Example 31, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples 29and 30 optionally further includes that the data indicative of thephysical status indicates a recommended replacement of the article offootwear upon the peak voltage increasing by a predetermined amount.

In Example 32, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-31 optionally further includes that the data indicative of thephysical status indicates a recommended replacement of the article offootwear upon at least one of the rise time, the fall time, and thepulse duration decreasing by a predetermined amount.

In Example 33, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-32 optionally further includes that the rise time is based on a timefor the voltage profile to rise between a predetermined baselinepercentage from the baseline and a predetermined peak percentage fromthe peak voltage, wherein the fall time is based on a time for thevoltage profile to fall between the predetermined peak percentage andthe predetermined baseline percentage, and wherein the pulse duration isbased on a time for the voltage profile to pass between a first crossingof the predetermined baseline percentage and a second crossing of thepredetermined baseline percentage.

In Example 34, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-33 optionally further includes a controller configured to determinethe change in the voltage profile based on a comparison of a firstvoltage profile sensed at a first time as stored in the electronic datastorage and a second voltage profile sensed at a second time later thanthe first time.

In Example 35, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-34 optionally further includes that the first time is based on afirst time window and the first voltage profile is an average of voltageprofiles sensed during the first time window and wherein the second timeis based on a second time window and the second voltage profile is anaverage of voltage profiles sensed during the second time window.

In Example 36, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-35 optionally further includes that the second time window is amoving time window and wherein the second voltage profile is based on anaverage of voltage profiles during the moving time window include a mostrecently sensed voltage profile.

In Example 37, the article of footwear of any one or more of Examples29-36 optionally further includes that the controller is furtherconfigured to cause, at least in part, a user interface to provide amessage based on the data indicative of the physical status.

In Example 38, a method of making an article of footwear includesforming a structural material configured to enable the article offootwear to the worn on a body, positioning a piezoelectric generatorwith respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexedto induce a voltage signal output, configured to output a signal havinga voltage profile upon being flexed, and coupling a wirelesstransmission circuit, a voltage sensor, an electronic data storage, anda comparator to the piezoelectric generator, wherein the voltage sensorconfigured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signalindicative of the voltage profile, wherein the electronic data storageis configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensordata, wherein the comparator is configured to identify a change in thevoltage profile information over time, and wherein the wirelesstransmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of aphysical status of the article of footwear based on the change in thevoltage profile information over time.

In Example 39, the method of Example 38 optionally further includes thatthe voltage profile includes a peak voltage, relative to a baselinevoltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, a fall time of the pulse,and a pulse duration, and wherein the change in the voltage profile isbased on a change in the voltage profile of at least one of the peakvoltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration.

In Example 40, the method of Examples 38 and 39 optionally furtherincludes that the data indicative of the physical status indicates arecommended replacement of the article of footwear upon the peak voltageincreasing by a predetermined amount.

In Example 41, the method of Examples 38-40 optionally further includesthat the data indicative of the physical status indicates a recommendedreplacement, of the article of footwear upon at least one of the risetime, the fall time, and the pulse duration decreasing by apredetermined amount.

In Example 42, the method of Examples 38-41 optionally further includesthat the rise time is based on a time for the voltage profile to risebetween a predetermined baseline percentage from the baseline and apredetermined peak percentage from the peak voltage, wherein the falltime is based on a time for the voltage profile to fall between thepredetermined peak percentage and the predetermined baseline percentage,and wherein the pulse duration is based on a time for the voltageprofile to pass between a first crossing of the predetermined baselinepercentage and a second crossing of the predetermined baselinepercentage.

In Example 43, the method of Examples 38-42 optionally further includescoupling a controller to the voltage sensor and the electronic datastorage, the controller configured to determine the change in thevoltage profile based on a comparison of a first voltage profile sensedat a first time as stored in the electronic data storage and a secondvoltage profile sensed at a second time later than the first time.

In Example 44, the method of Examples 38-43 optionally further includesthe first time is based on a first time window and the first voltageprofile is an average of voltage profiles sensed during the first timewindow and wherein the second time is based on a second time window andthe second voltage profile is an average of voltage profiles sensedduring the second time window.

In Example 45, the method of Examples 38-44 optionally further includesthat the second time window is a moving time window and wherein thesecond voltage profile is based on an average of voltage profiles duringthe moving time window include a most recently sensed voltage profile.

In Example 46, the method of Examples 38-45 optionally further includesthat the controller is further configured to cause, at least in part, auser interface to provide a message based on the data indicative of thephysical status.

In Example 47, a wearable article includes a structural materialconfigured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, apiezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structuralmaterial in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a datatranslator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to outputelectronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage,coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic datafrom the data translator.

In Example 48, the wearable article of Example 47 optionally furtherincludes that the data translator is configured to generate digitalelectronic data based on the voltage relative to a voltage threshold atpredetermined times.

In Example 49, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47 and 48optionally further includes that the voltage corresponds to a firstbinary digit when the voltage exceeds the voltage threshold andcorresponds to a second binary digit, different than the first binarydigit, when the voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

In Example 50, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-49optionally further includes that the voltage includes a peak voltage,relative to a baseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, afall time of the pulse, and a pulse duration, and wherein the change inthe voltage profile is based on a change in the voltage profile of atleast one of the peak voltage, the rise time, the fall time, and thepulse duration, and wherein the data translator generates digital databits based on at least one of the peak voltage, the rise time, the falltime, and the pulse duration of a pulse.

In Example 51, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-50optionally further includes that the data translator is configured togenerate multiple digital data bits based on at least two of the peakvoltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration of asingle pulse.

In Example 52, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-51optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput the electronic data based on the voltage as sensed during thepredetermined windows.

In Example 53, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-52optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput digital electronic data based on the voltage as sensed relativeto a voltage threshold during the predetermined window.

In Example 54, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-53optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput a first digital bit based on the voltage as sensed exceeding thevoltage threshold during one of the predetermined windows and a seconddigital bit different than the first digital bit based on the voltage assensed not exceeding the voltage threshold during the one of thepredetermined windows.

In Example 55, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-54optionally further includes a controller configured to selectively causethe electronic data to be written to the electronic data storage.

In Example 56, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-55optionally further includes that the controller is configured toselectively cause the electronic data to be written to the electronicdata storage based on the a write command being included in theelectronic data.

In Example 57, the wearable article of any one or of Examples 47-56optionally further includes that the wearable article is configured beseated in an apparatus configured to flex the wearable article to impartthe electronic data to the wearable article.

In Example 58, a method for making a wearable article includes forming astructural material to enable the wearable article to the worn on abody, positioning a piezoelectric generator with respect to thestructural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage,coupling a data translator to the piezoelectric generator, the datatranslator configured to output electronic data based on the voltage,and coupling an electronic data storage to the data translator, theelectronic data storage configured to store the electronic data from thedata translator.

In Example 59, the method of Example 58 further optionally includes thatthe data translator is configured to generate digital electronic databased on the voltage relative to a voltage threshold at predeterminedtimes.

In Example 60, the method of any one or more of Examples 58 and 59optionally further includes that the voltage corresponds to a firstbinary digit when the voltage exceeds the voltage threshold andcorresponds to a second binary digit, different than the first binarydigit, when the voltage is less than the voltage threshold.

In Example 61, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-60optionally further includes that the voltage includes a peak voltage,relative to a baseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, afall time of the pulse, and a pulse duration, and wherein the change inthe voltage profile is based on a change in the voltage profile of atleast one of the peak voltage, the rise time, the fall time, and thepulse duration, and wherein the data translator generates digital databits based on at least one of the peak voltage, the rise time, the falltime, and the pulse duration of a pulse.

In Example 62, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-61optionally further includes that the data translator is configured togenerate multiple digital data bits based on at least two of the peakvoltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration of asingle pulse.

In Example 63, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-62optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput the electronic data based on tire voltage as sensed during thepredetermined windows.

In Example 64, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-63optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput digital electronic data based on the voltage as sensed relativeto a voltage threshold during the predetermined window.

In Example 65, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-64optionally further includes that the data translator is configured tooutput a first digital bit based on the voltage as sensed exceeding thevoltage threshold during one of the predetermined windows and a seconddigital bit different than the first digital bit based on the voltage assensed not exceeding the voltage threshold during the one of thepredetermined windows.

In Example 66, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-65optionally further includes coupling a controller to the data translatorand the electronic data storage, the controller configured toselectively cause the electronic data to be written to the electronicdata storage.

In Example 67, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-66optionally further includes that the controller is configured toselectively cause the electronic data to be written to the electronicdata storage based on the a write command being included in theelectronic data.

In Example 68, the method of any one or more of Examples 58-67optionally further includes that the wearable article is configured beseated in an apparatus configured to flex the wearable article to impartthe electronic data to the wearable article.

In Example 69, a method includes flexing a wearable article according toa predetermined pattern corresponding to electronic data, the wearablearticle comprising a piezoelectric generator, wherein flexing thewearable article causes the piezoelectric generator to flex, whereinflexing the wearable article causes the piezoelectric generator tooutput a voltage, wherein a data translator, coupled to thepiezoelectric generator, outputs electronic data, based on the voltage,and wherein an electronic data storage stores the electronic data fromthe data translator.

In Example 70, a system includes a structural material configured toenable a wearable article to the worn on a body, a wireless transmissioncircuit, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to thestructural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltagesignal output, configured to output a signal having a voltage profileupon being flexed, a voltage sensor, coupled to the piezoelectricgenerator, configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensorsignal indicative of the voltage profile, an electronic data storage,coupled to the voltage sensor, configured to store voltage profileinformation based on the sensor data, a comparator, coupled to theelectronic data storage, configured to identify a change in the voltageprofile information over time, wherein the wireless transmission circuitis configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of thewearable article based on the change in the voltage profile informationover time.

In Example 71, the system of Example 70 optionally further includes thatthe voltage profile includes a peak voltage, relative to a baselinevoltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, a fall time of the pulse,and a pulse duration, and wherein the change in the voltage profile isbased on a change in the voltage profile of at least one of the peakvoltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration.

In Example 72, the system of any one or more of Examples 70 and 71optionally further includes that the data indicative of the physicalstatus indicates a recommended replacement of the wearable article uponthe peak voltage increasing by a predetermined amount.

In Example 73, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-72optionally further includes that the data indicative of the physicalstatus indicates a recommended replacement of the wearable article uponat least one of the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse durationdecreasing by a predetermined amount.

In Example 74, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-73optionally further includes that the rise time is based on a time forthe voltage profile to rise between a predetermined baseline percentagefrom the baseline and a predetermined peak percentage from, the peakvoltage, wherein the fall time is based on a time for the voltageprofile to fall between the predetermined peak percentage and thepredetermined baseline percentage, and wherein the pulse duration isbased on a time for the voltage profile to pass between a first crossingof the predetermined baseline percentage and a second crossing of thepredetermined baseline percentage.

In Example 75, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-74optionally further includes a controller configured to determine thechange in the voltage profile based on a comparison of a first voltageprofile sensed at a first time as stored in the electronic data storageand a second voltage profile sensed at a second time later than thefirst time.

In Example 76, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-75optionally further includes that the first time is based on a first timewindow and the first voltage profile is an average of voltage profilessensed during the first time window and wherein the second time is basedon a second time window and the second voltage profile is an average ofvoltage profiles sensed during the second time window.

In Example 77, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-76optionally further includes that the second time window is a moving timewindow and wherein the second voltage profile is based on an average ofvoltage profiles during the moving time window include a most recentlysensed voltage profile.

In Example 78, the system of any one or more of Examples 70-77optionally further includes that the controller is further configured tocause, at least in part, a user interface to provide a message based onthe data indicative of the physical status.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or ina transmission signal) or hardware modules. A “hardware module” is atangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a groupof processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware module that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

In some embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware module may be a special-purpose processor, such, as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware module may alsoinclude programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configuredby software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwaremodule may include software encompassed within a general-purposeprocessor or other programmable processor. It will be appreciated thatthe decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations.

Accordingly, the phrase “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. As used herein,“hardware-implemented module” refers to a hardware module. Consideringembodiments in which hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g.,programmed), each of the hardware modules need not be configured orinstantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where a hardwaremodule comprises a general-purpose processor configured by software tobecome a special-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may beconfigured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g.,comprising different hardware modules) at different times. Software mayaccordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware module at one instance of time and to constitute adifferent hardware module at a different instance of time.

Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiplehardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achievedthrough signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses)between or among two or more of the hardware modules. In embodiments inwhich multiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware modules may beachieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of informationin memory structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access.For example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions describedherein. As used herein, “processor-implemented module” refers to ahardware module implemented using one or more processors.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, a processor being an example of hardware. Forexample, at least some of the operations of a method may be performed byone or more processors or processor-implemented modules. Moreover, theone or more processors may also operate to support performance of therelevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “softwareas a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations maybe performed by a group of computers (as examples of machines includingprocessors), with these operations being accessible via a network (e.g.,the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., anapplication program interface (API)).

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine,but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments,the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other exampleembodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modulesmay be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Some portions of this specification are presented in terms of algorithmsor symbolic representations of operations on data, stored as bits orbinary digital signals within a machine memory (e.g., a computermemory). These algorithms or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing artsto convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Asused herein, an “algorithm” is a semi-consistent sequence of operationsor similar processing leading to a desired result. In this context,algorithms and operations involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, but not necessarily, such quantities may take theform of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of beingstored, accessed, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwisemanipulated by a machine. It is convenient at times, principally forreasons of common usage, to refer to such signals using words such as“data,” “content,” “bits,” “values,” “elements,” “symbols,”“characters,” “terms,” “numbers,” “numerals,” or the like. These words,however, are merely convenient labels and are to be associated withappropriate physical quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using wordssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,”“presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions orprocesses of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transformsdata represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical)quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory,non-volatile memory, or any suitable combination thereof), registers, orother machine components that receive, store, transmit, or displayinformation. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, theterms “a” or “an” are herein used, as is common in patent documents, toinclude one or more than one instance. Finally, as used herein, theconjunction “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or,” unless specificallystated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of footwear, comprising: a structuralmaterial configured to enable the article of footwear to be worn on abody; a wireless transmission circuit; a piezoelectric generator,positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration tobe flexed to induce a voltage signal output, configured to output asignal having a voltage profile upon being flexed; a voltage sensor,coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to sense the voltageprofile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile; anelectronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, configured tostore voltage profile information based on the sensor signal; and acomparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, configured toidentify a change in the voltage profile information from a first stepat a first time to a second step at a second time later than the firsttime; wherein the wireless transmission circuit is configured totransmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwearbased on the change in the voltage profile information over time.
 2. Thearticle of footwear of claim 1, wherein the voltage profile includes apeak voltage, relative to a baseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time ofthe pulse, a fall time of the pulse, and a pulse duration, and whereinthe change in the voltage profile is based on a change in the voltageprofile of at least one of the peak voltage, the rise time, the falltime, and the pulse duration.
 3. The article of footwear of claim 2,wherein the data indicative of the physical status indicates arecommended replacement of the article of footwear upon the peak voltageincreasing by a predetermined amount.
 4. The article of footwear ofclaim 2, wherein the data indicative of the physical status indicates arecommended replacement of the article of footwear upon at least one ofthe rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration decreasing by apredetermined amount.
 5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein therise time is based on a time for the voltage profile to rise between apredetermined baseline percentage from the baseline and a predeterminedpeak percentage from the peak voltage, wherein the fall time is based ona time for the voltage profile to fall between the predetermined peakpercentage and the predetermined baseline percentage, and wherein thepulse duration is based on a time for the voltage profile to passbetween a first crossing of the predetermined baseline percentage and asecond crossing of the predetermined baseline percentage.
 6. The articleof footwear of claim 2, further comprising a controller configured todetermine the change in the voltage profile based on a comparison of afirst voltage profile sensed at a first time as stored in the electronicdata storage and a second voltage profile sensed at a second time laterthan the first time.
 7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein thefirst time is based on a first time window and the first voltage profileis an average of voltage profiles sensed during the first time windowand wherein the second time is based on a second time window and thesecond voltage profile is an average of voltage profiles sensed duringthe second time window.
 8. The article of footwear of claim 7, whereinthe second time window is a moving time window and wherein the secondvoltage profile is based on an average of voltage profiles during themoving time window include a most recently sensed voltage profile. 9.The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to cause, at least in part, a user interface to provide amessage based on the data indicative of the physical status.
 10. Amethod of making an article of footwear, comprising: forming astructural material configured to enable the article of footwear to beworn on a body; positioning a piezoelectric generator with respect tothe structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce avoltage signal output, configured to output a signal having a voltageprofile upon being flexed; and coupling a wireless transmission circuit,a voltage sensor, an electronic data storage, and a comparator to thepiezoelectric generator; wherein the voltage sensor is configured tosense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of thevoltage profile; wherein the electronic data storage is configured tostore voltage profile information based on the sensor signal; whereinthe comparator is configured to identify a change in the voltage profileinformation from a first step at a first time to a second step at asecond time later than the first time; and wherein the wirelesstransmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of aphysical status of the article of footwear based on the change in thevoltage profile information over time.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the voltage profile includes a peak voltage, relative to abaseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, a fall time ofthe pulse, and a pulse duration, and wherein the change in the voltageprofile is based on a change in the voltage profile of at least one ofthe peak voltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data indicative of the physicalstatus indicates a recommended replacement of the article of footwearupon the peak voltage increasing by a predetermined amount.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the data indicative of the physical statusindicates a recommended replacement of the article of footwear upon atleast one of the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse durationdecreasing by a predetermined amount.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the rise time is based on a time for the voltage profile to risebetween a predetermined baseline percentage from the baseline and apredetermined peak percentage from the peak voltage, wherein the falltime is based on a time for the voltage profile to fall between thepredetermined peak percentage and the predetermined baseline percentage,and wherein the pulse duration is based on a time for the voltageprofile to pass between a first crossing of the predetermined baselinepercentage and a second crossing of the predetermined baselinepercentage.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling acontroller to the voltage sensor and the electronic data storage, thecontroller configured to determine the change in the voltage profilebased on a comparison of a first voltage profile sensed at a first timeas stored in the electronic data storage and a second voltage profilesensed at a second time later than the first time.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the first time is based on a first time window and thefirst voltage profile is an average of voltage profiles sensed duringthe first time window and wherein the second time is based on a secondtime window and the second voltage profile is an average of voltageprofiles sensed during the second time window.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the second time window is a moving time window and whereinthe second voltage profile is based on an average of voltage profilesduring the moving time window include a most recently sensed voltageprofile.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to cause, at least in part, a user interface to provide amessage based on the data indicative of the physical status.
 19. Ansystem, comprising: a structural material of a wearable article,configured to enable wearable article to be worn on a body; a wirelesstransmission circuit; a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respectto the structural material in a configuration to be Hexed to induce avoltage signal output, configured to output a signal having a voltageprofile upon being flexed; a voltage sensor, coupled to thepiezoelectric generator, configured to sense the voltage profile andoutput a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile; an electronicdata storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, configured to store voltageprofile information based on the sensor signal; and a comparator,coupled to the electronic data storage, configured to identify a changein the voltage profile information from a first step at a first time toa second step at a second time later than the first time; wherein thewireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicativeof a physical status of the wearable article based on the change in thevoltage profile information over time.
 20. The system of claim 19,wherein the voltage profile includes a peak voltage, relative to abaseline voltage, of a pulse, a rise time of the pulse, a fall time ofthe pulse, and a pulse duration, and wherein the change in the voltageprofile is based on a change in the voltage profile of at least one ofthe peak voltage, the rise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration.21. The system of claim 20, wherein the data indicative of the physicalstatus indicates a recommended replacement of the wearable article uponthe peak voltage increasing by a predetermined amount.
 22. The system ofclaim 20, wherein the data indicative of the physical status indicates arecommended replacement of the wearable article upon at least one of therise time, the fall time, and the pulse duration decreasing by apredetermined amount.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the rise timeis based on a time for the voltage profile to rise between apredetermined baseline percentage from the baseline and a predeterminedpeak percentage from the peak voltage, wherein the fall time is based ona time for the voltage profile to fall between the predetermined peakpercentage and the predetermined baseline percentage, and wherein thepulse duration is based on a time for the voltage profile to passbetween a first crossing of the predetermined baseline percentage and asecond crossing of the predetermined baseline percentage.
 24. The systemof claim 20, further comprising a controller configured to determine thechange in the voltage profile based on a comparison of a first voltageprofile sensed at a first time as stored in the electronic data storageand a second voltage profile sensed at a second time later than thefirst time.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first time is basedon a first time window and the first voltage profile is an average ofvoltage profiles sensed during the first time window and wherein thesecond time is based on a second time window and the second voltageprofile is an average of voltage profiles sensed during the second timewindow.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the second time window is amoving time window and wherein the second voltage profile is based on anaverage of voltage profiles during the moving time window include a mostrecently sensed voltage profile.
 27. The system of claim 20, wherein thecontroller is further configured to cause, at least in part, a userinterface to provide a message based on the data indicative of thephysical status.